Madeleine Kennedy Thicker Than Water Interview

Pete Murray Switches Song for Script

Cast: Pete Murray, Chai Hansen, Madeleine Kennedy, Brad McMurray
Director: Dominic Crisci
Genre: Drama

Multi-award winning Australian singer/songwriter Pete Murray undertook a personal transformation this year, debuting his dramatic talents in the lead role of Mad Lane Productions' independent feature production, Thicker Than Water.

After concluding his Feeler 10 Year Anniversary album tour in 2014/15, Murray decided it was time to switch song for script. He began filming on the Sunshine Coast, QLD alongside industry favourites: Chai Hansen (previously Chai Romruen from Mako Mermaids, CW: The 100 and Shadowhunters), Anthony Brandon Wong (Family Law and 'Ghost' from Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions) and Madeleine Kennedy (We Were Tomorrow, Charlie's Farm and The Chronicles of Anatta).

"While at times I was nervous and pretty scared, I saw it as a great opportunity to take a giant leap into the world of acting, plus I got to work with friends, have a great time and expand on something that I'm genuinely interested in", confirmed Murray.

Pete Murray's cinematic debut was made easier by a talented cast that also included Brad McMurray (San Andreas, Bad Karma, Sea Patrol), Philippe Klaus (Wolf Creek 2, Brock) and the film's writer and lead actress Ellie Popov (Emporium, Interface).

Thicker Than Water is a suburban drama set against a south-east Queensland backdrop and explores the fragility of family. The film was recently released in the US by Mad Lane Productions on Amazon Prime and producer Madeleine Kennedy, along with Adam Horner and the sales team at Ignite Pictures, have secured Green Apple Entertainment for video on demand in North America and Bounty Films in Australia for domestic and rest of world distribution.

Thicker Than Water will be available in Australia and New Zealand from the 18th of May via Amazon Prime & Instant Video and Vimeo On Demand.

Interview with Madeleine Kennedy

Question: How would you describe Thicker Than Water?

Madeleine Kennedy: Thicker Than Water is a suburban, Aussie drama, which puts the idea of 'family' under the microscope. It explores the different kinds of family a person can have: the one you are born into, the one you choose for yourself, and the one you try to escape.

The film is centred around Dimitri ("D") Puvmaskanin (Pete Murray), who is released from rehab and returns home to his orphaned siblings: Ludmiller, Susha and Ivan.

Question: Can you tell us about your character, Sam?

Madeleine Kennedy: Edgy and unapologetically honest, Sam is Ludmiller's childhood friend and 'surrogate sister' to the family. She has the appearance of a punk-rock chick, but her intellect and grounded nature, means she is often the one who stabilises the other characters.


Question: How are you similar to Sam?

Madeleine Kennedy: I share a lot of similarities with Sam, which is why I think I connected with her as a character so strongly. We are both adventurous, driven and strong-willed. We both have a tendency to be a little stubborn or blunt, and we are creative to the core. In the film, Sam uses dancing and fashion to express herself, whereas I use acting and filmmaking. However, the trait that I recognise the most in Sam, is her fierce loyalty. Sam would move mountains for the Puvmaskanin's, just as I would with those I care about. Unfortunately, I don't share Sam's confidence and sense of style - she has a far better wardrobe than me and is able to rock just about anything! That one I am still working on, haha!


Question: What was it like working with Pete Murray on this project?

Madeleine Kennedy: Being on set with Pete was exactly as you'd imagine -- guitar sessions at lunch, hilarious outtakes and spontaneous dances-offs before 'action' was called. He brought such a positive and fun energy to set, that no-one would have guessed it was his debut role and he had almost turned it down.

When I first approached him, he was a little nervous about the challenging content and emotionally demanding scenes for 'D'. Pete was worried that he wouldn't be able to give the role the justice it deserved, as he had only just begun acting and the last time we worked together, he played the comedic, Mexican Anti-hero 'Pedro Morales' in his music video.

Thicker Than Water was a huge leap in the opposite direction, but Pete invested his time into the project wholeheartedly and brought a powerful emotion to the script, that his fans will have only heard in his songs. So, as a fellow actor and the film's producer, I am incredibly excited to share his memorable performance with the world.


Question: Why was Thicker Than Water set in south-east Queensland?

Madeleine Kennedy: Most of the time, productions utilise the studios and suburbs in the major cities for their films. However, Thicker Than Water was set in a fictional, coastal town, so I immediately saw the opportunity to feature my hometown of Caloundra as the backdrop of the story.
It meant that we were able to share the filmmaking culture with a region of Queensland that was not normally exposed to it and promote the community on a world stage, as more than just a tourist destination.

It also allowed me to give back to the people who had supported me in my journey as an actor/producer.


Question: How does your work as a producer and an actor coincide on a project, like this?

Madeleine Kennedy: Acting and producing are two very different crafts, with their own unique languages and rules, which belong on two different sides of a camera. It can be challenging at times to balance the artistic and the business worlds, but I have found that on projects like Thicker Than Water, it has enabled me to create work and solve problems in more innovative and efficient ways. I also enjoy wearing both hats on a production, as it gives me a more grounded understanding and respect for the work each person does as a cast and crew member.


Question: What do you hope Australians will take away from Thicker Than Water?

Madeleine Kennedy: When the credits roll, there is a myriad of things the audiences will feel, but I hope they walk away with: pride, because another Australian voice is being shared around the world; happiness, because they recognise some of the faces or locations from their home; a sense of reflection, on their definition of family and the people that evoke that importance for them.


Question: What inspired your passion for filmmaking and acting?

Madeleine Kennedy: Everyone has a pivotal or engaging origin story, but mine was really basic. When I was 6, I watched Baz Luhrman's adaption of 'Romeo and Juliet' and told my Nana I was going to get into the Capulet's party. She told me the only way I was getting an invite was to become an actor... so here I am. I haven't quite reached that initial goal, but the journey to create stories that have powerful performances and beautiful, engaging language like Shakespeare's classic has driven me to this point in my career.


Question: How does it feel to see yourself on the big screen?
Madeleine Kennedy: Honestly, I feel a mixture of things.

I always start out excited to see the finished product, as usually it has been months or years since I finished acting on the project. This is usually replaced by laughter when I first see my face on the cinema-sized screen and then I become quietly critical of the way I look, move and sound. Which is replaced by the fear that other people in the cinema around me are making those same judgements, but then I take a moment to stop the critique and look back at the screen. It's then that I feel humbled and proud that I am able to do what makes me happy and share it with people around the world.


Question: What's next, for you?

Madeleine Kennedy: I recently secured my visa for the US and moved to LA to continue my work there. I am currently in post production on my series 'We Were Tomorrow', which filmed across Queensland, Los Angeles, China and Thailand, and will be delivered to a US broadcaster later this year. The series follows Chai Hansen (was Chai Romruen), who played Ivan in Thicker Than Water, as my twin brother, as we navigate through three lifetimes to escape a dying world.


Interview by Brooke Hunter